Differences between English and English (UK vs. US)

[maxtog]

Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)

[gPink]

max, can you give a thumbs up?   Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 

[VirginiaJim]

You are wired differently...

I start from the thumb as well.

[mikeyw64]

Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)

Because it's so natural for me I never imagined nobody else could do it

[mikeyw64]

max, can you give a thumbs up?   Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 

[Rhino]

I think it was 'three', and the difference was using or not- using the thumb. The guy gives himself away by signalling three not using his thumb; he signals three with his first three fingers, while a German would use his thumb and first two fingers. Which is all well and fine but I am an American and also use my thumb when indicating "drei". For 'one' and 'two', I use fingers. For 'three', I use two fingers and thumb. For four, I use all four fingers and no thumb. There is only one way I know of to signal five with one hand (and your pants up).

What is interesting in Germany is that people wear their wedding rings on their right hands, as do Orthodox Christians, at least commonly. Germans wear their wedding bands on their left hands to signal engagement but move it to the right hand once actually married. But that seems to be a German rather than European custom and I believe they wear wedding rings on the left hand in the UK as we do in the US.

Brian

Ah yes you are correct, it was 3. The only time I would use the thumb is for 5.

[B.D.F.]

In the US, the chant 'For he's a jolly good fellow' ends with 'which nobody can deny'. I believe in the UK it is the same except for the end, which is 'and so say all of us'.

I assume we stole that from you so your version would take precedence..... :-)

Brian

[Conniesaki]

In the US, the chant 'For he's a jolly good fellow' ends with 'which nobody can deny'. I believe in the UK it is the same except for the end, which is 'and so say all of us'.

I assume we stole borrowed that from you so your version would take precedence..... :-)

Brian

We didn't want to get hit with copyright infringement.

[B.D.F.]

Yeah well, I think they were chucking lead balls at us from Brown Bess's at the time so copyrights were probably not a high priority.

This may be like the aluminum / aluminium thingy where they invented it, we adopted (read: stole) it, then they changed it later while we kept on with the version that worked for 200 years. Not sure where or when the 'jolly good fellow' thingy changed but with any luck, maxtog will put in a link to the solution.

:-)

Brian

We didn't want to get hit with copyright infringement.

[just gone]

Well, a hell of a lot of people can't do that (including me)

Must be something about us short people. I can barely do it but the third finger doesn't quite extend all the way out and neither does the forth until the pinkie goes out. I also can't make the Scout 3 finger salute as my thumbs (and coincidentally my big toes) seem different from everybody else's as they just don't have the range of motion to get all the way over to the pinkie to hold it down.  I hold up three fingers by holding down the index finger with the thumb and extending the last three. Weird, my thumbs and big toes are. I can do the Spock salute, so there's that. 🖖

[maxtog]

max, can you give a thumbs up?   Now stick your index finger out like you're pointing a gun. Do that three more times and before you know it you'll have counted to five on your fingers. Hope this helps. 

That doesn't work for many (most?) people.  The tendons that connect the ring and pinky finger often work partially in tandem without full range of independent motion.  You can count to three only and then it is impossible to hold up the ring finger with the pinky still down, it will stick halfway up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZLAzfyc_0

[maxtog]

Must be something about us short people.

I have a long torso, but short legs/arms.  But I doubt standing height has much to do with it.

I also can't make the Scout 3 finger salute as my thumbs (and coincidentally my big toes) seem different from everybody else's as they just don't have the range of motion to get all the way over to the pinkie to hold it down.  I hold up three fingers by holding down the index finger with the thumb and extending the last three.

I don't have that limitation.  I can easily hold down my pinky with my thumb.

Hey, this thread is turning into "stupid people/human tricks" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plRTqSfJPDc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9JhqEVLDs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OafgpuxSKKo

[gPink]

C'mon max get that little finger working...

[maxtog]

C'mon max get that little finger working...

ROTFLOL!
 

[mikeyw64]

Hey, this thread is turning into "stupid people/human tricks" 

In an effort to come back from the prestidigital dexterity....


soft drinks such as the Colas etc.

As a generic term we call them "pop" rather than "soda" a;though we do have a variety/flavour  of "pop" that is called "american cream soda" 

[maxtog]

"soda" or "soft drink" here

[mikeyw64]

staying on the drinks front, dedicated shops for buying booze (ass opposed to picking up from a general supermarket/corner shop/convenience store

"Liquor Store" vs "Off Licence"


The word "off-licence" comes from the way premises are licensed to sell alcohol over here.

A bar/restaurant/pub would typically have a licence to sell alcohol either fro consumption "on" the premises or in some cases "on" or "off" the premises.


By an elegant extension of that any place that sells alcohol for consumption "off" the premises is an "off licence"


Technically the supermarkets etc have the same licence however an "offy" is usually reserved for referring to a smaller corner shop type place that sell predominantly alcohol , although it may also sell other goods as well.

As a complete contrast I do find the Swedish "Systembolaget " system interesting. When I was over there back in the 90's if you wanted to buy alcohol (over 3.5% by volume) to consume at home you had to go to one of these state run shops, take a ticket, order your booze & pick it up from a window. They were also only open very restricted hours although I believe that has changed slightly recently.

[mikeyw64]

Just realised the Swedish system is very similar to that in many US States whilst over here it's more like California (I believe) where you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a licence.

If I ran out of JD (for example)  I could just nip down to the petrol station around the corner from me (that's open 24/7) and pick up a bottle anytime I want.

[maxtog]

Just realised the Swedish system is very similar to that in many US States whilst over here it's more like California (I believe) where you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a licence.

Assuming we are talking about off-site consumption...

In most (all?) States, you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a license.  But you have to define "alcohol".  What is available depends on the strength.  Beer and wine- just about anywhere.  But "hard liquor" is often restricted to "ABC" (alcoholic beverage control) stores.

[mikeyw64]

Assuming we are talking about off-site consumption...

In most (all?) States, you can buy alcohol from pretty much anywhere that holds a license.  But you have to define "alcohol".  What is available depends on the strength.  Beer and wine- just about anywhere.  But "hard liquor" is often restricted to "ABC" (alcoholic beverage control) stores.

Over  here you either have a licence to sell alcohol or you don't. As simple as that, although actually getting the correct licence isn't necessarily simple